The Honorable Anne Lamkin Durward

The Honorable Anne Dahlene Lamkin Durward passed away peacefully at her home on May 27, 2023. Born on February 1, 1969 to Dr. Thomas G. Lamkin and Mrs. Anne Lamkin of Mountain Brook. Anne is survived by her devoted husband of twenty-three years, G. John Durward, Jr., her parents, her younger brothers Thomas G. Lamkin, Jr. (Kelly), and Robert F. Lamkin (Angelina), her father-in-law Gerard J. Durward, her brother-in-law Michael P. Durward (Melissa), her beloved niece Annelise and nephew Griffin Lamkin, and nephews Robert, Jr., David and Daniel Lamkin and her canine children Duke and Laney.

Appointed by Governor Kay Ivey in 2020 and elected in 2022, the Honorable Anne Durward served as a judge in the Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Domestic Relations Division, Place 1. Judge Durward was known for ruling fairly, through her depth of knowledge and experience of matrimonial law. When not serving on the bench, Judge Durward spent her entire professional career promoting and contributing meaningfully toward the administration of justice in Alabama and her community.

Prior to serving as a judge, Judge Durward practiced for 25 years in the area of family and domestic matters at Massey, Stoser & Nichols, P.C., where she was a shareholder and authored Child Custody: Modern Trends and Observations published in Child Custody Litigation and Settlements (Aspatore 2013). After graduating from Mountain Brook High School in 1987, Judge Durward received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Washington & Lee University (1991) and her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (1995). In addition to the State of Alabama, Judge Durward is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Alabama.

At Cumberland School of Law, Judge Durward was the Managing Editor of the American Journal of Trial Advoacy and served on both the Henry Upsom Sims Moot Court Board and the Cumberland Trial Advocacy Board. This experience served her well, as Judge Durward has continued to serve the legal community by teaching law students how best to promote justice through her position as the National Moot Court Team Coach at Cumberland School of Law. Her diligent and loyal work with the students of Cumberland led to her being awarded as one of the Cumberland School of Law Top 20 Female Lawyers for 2020, the 2021 Alumni of the Year Award, the 2022 Community Affairs Committee Award for Outstanding Community Service and the Pro Bono Service Award recipient.

Committed to the field of matrimonial law, Judge Durward served as a Judicial Fellow of both the prestigious Organizations of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”). Judge Durward has served on multiple committees of the AAML, and served as President of the Alabama Chapter. She currently served as President of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation. Judge Durward and her husband were known for traveling the globe with these organizations with dear friends and colleagues from across the country. Judge Durward is a Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation and a Life Fellow and past President of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Bar Foundation having co-led the founding of the organization’s Fellows program. Judge Durward was an active member in the Birmingham Bar Association serving as a Past Secretary-Treasurer of its Executive Committee, an active member in the Family Law, Women Lawyers (Board member) and Probate Sections and Entertainment Committee of the organization and was a member of the Magic City Bar Association. Judge Durward twice served as President of the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, served on its Board of Trustees and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program. Judge Durward was recognized by the Birmingham Bar Foundation with the 2018 Excellence Award. She has served as a speaker for multiple continuing legal education seminars for the Alabama State Bar, the American Bar Association, and other national and international organizations.

Judge Durward was selected to Class IV of the Leadership Forum of the Alabama State Bar. She served as President and remains on the Advisory Board of DELTA, Inc., which is a charitable organization formed by members of the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to maintain a life development center in Birmingham’s Green Acres neighborhood and support community programs for youth and adults.

Judge Durward’s local community involvement included serving on the Community Affairs Committee and serving as a Sustainer of the Birmingham Ballet Guild, a member of the Washington & Lee University Alumni Chapter Board, and as a member of the Women’s Committee of 100. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame and on the Dean’s Executive Council at the Orlean Beeson School of Education at Samford University. Judge Durward also is a member of the United Fellowship Breakfast Forum, Inc., Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, and the Judge James Edwin Horton American Inns of Court. Judge Durward has been listed for multiple years in the Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, the Top Attorneys and Top Women Attorneys in Birmingham and in SuperLawyers, and is AV Rated in Martindale Hubbell. Notwithstanding her commitment to the community, Judge Durward took time to mentor countless of attorneys and friends and all with a contagious smile.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on June 8, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 3736 Montrose Rd., Mountain Brook, AL 35213. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m. in Graham Hall at the church. Service will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/LTo0oFKjXoY?feature=share

Memorials can be sent to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, the Birmingham Bar Foundation, or a charity of your chosing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Durward family.